Japan has long captured the world’s imagination, and its history continues to be a source of fascination, as evidenced by the popularity of films such as The Last Samurai and Memoirs of a Geisha. The influence of its unique culture, the product of an island country that has preserved its identity, continues to be felt strongly today, with its sophisticated cuisine, martial arts, and more recently, scientific and technological advances, primarily in electronics and robotics.

Unlike other Asian languages such as Mandarin, Vietnamese, or Thai, Japanese is not a “tonic” language, which makes it easier for Westerners to learn.